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Introduction to rapid qualitative research

This page provides information on our 'Introduction to rapid qualitative research' training course.

Course summary

This course provides an introduction to a wide range of approaches used in rapid qualitative research and rapid literature reviews. The course will combine short presentations with hands-on exercises. The participants will get the opportunity to work with real research cases and design their own rapid study. Participants who are planning a rapid study will be encouraged to use their own topic throughout the course. Short rapid research clinics will be available at the end of the course to discuss projects in detail (these will need to be pre-booked by participants).

Course aims

  1. Introduce participants to a wide range of rapid qualitative research approaches (including rapid literature reviews)
  2. Discuss the contributions and limitations of using rapid qualitative research
  3. Improve skills in the design and implementation of rapid qualitative research
  4. Improve skills in the dissemination and application of research findings

Course content

  • Introduction to rapid research-why use rapid methods?
  • Brief history of rapid research approaches
  • The contributions and limitations of rapid research approaches-when are these approaches suitable?
  • Overview of rapid qualitative research approaches (including rapid ethnographic assessments (REA), rapid appraisals (RA), short-term ethnographies, rapid assessment procedures (RAP))
  • Step-by-step guide to designing and implementing rapid qualitative research
  • The combination of rapid research with other types of research
  • Rapid systematic reviews and meta-analyses
  • Dissemination and the translation of findings into changes in policy and practice

Pre-requisites

None

About the instructor

Dr Cecilia Vindrola
Dr Cecilia Vindrola is a medical anthropologist interested in applied health research and the development of rapid approaches to research. She works across four interdisciplinary teams, applying anthropological theories and methods to study and improve healthcare delivery in the UK and abroad. She is a researcher on the NIHR-funded Rapid Service Evaluation Team (RSET), a collaboration between UCL and the Nuffield Trust. She has written extensively on the use of rapid qualitative research and currently co-directs the Rapid Research, Evaluation and Appraisal Lab (RREAL) with Dr Ginger Johnson. She is the past Director and current training lead for the Qualitative Health Research Network (QHRN). Cecilia works as a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Applied Health Research, UCL and Social Scientist at the NIAA Health Services Research Centre.